Washington (CNN) - It's one of the hottest national debates this summer: What to do about the influx of unaccompanied and undocumented children from Central America who are crossing from Mexico into the U.S.

A new national poll indicates that a majority of Americans approve of President Barack Obama's short term remedy, but most give the President and his GOP critics in Congress a thumbs down on how they're handling the crisis along the country's southern border.

According to an ABC News/Washington Post survey released Tuesday, 53% support the White House plan to spend $3.7 billion to immediately deal with the situation, with 43% saying they disapprove of the proposal. The survey indicates an expected partisan divide, with two-thirds of Democrats supportive of the Obama plan. That number drops to 51% among independents and down to 35% among Republicans. Hispanics questioned in the poll support the proposal by a 54%-43% margin.

Even though a majority back the President's proposal, only a third of Americans give Obama a thumbs up on how he's handling the issue of undocumented immigrants entering the country. While that's nothing to brag about, only 23% of those questioned say they approve of how congressional Republicans are dealing with the crisis. Even Republicans are divided (48% approval – 45% disapproval) on how federal lawmakers from their own party are handling the issue.

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Even though a majority back the President’s proposal, only a third of Americans give Obama a thumbs up on how he’s handling the issue of undocumented immigrants entering the country. While that’s nothing to brag about, only 23% of those questioned say they approve of how congressional Republicans are dealing with the crisis. Even Republicans are divided (48% approval – 45% disapproval) on how federal lawmakers from their own party are handling the issue.

Another useless poll. Thanks to the MSM most give President Obama a thumbs down for everything from tying his shoes to kissing his daughters goodnight. He's damned if he do, damned if he don't, on absolutely everything......

July 15, 2014 10:35 am at 10:35 am |

O'drama ya Mama

Even though a majority back the President's proposal, only a third of Americans give Obama a thumbs up on how he's handling the issue of undocumented immigrants entering the country. While that's nothing to brag about, only 23% of those questioned say they approve of how congressional Republicans are dealing with the crisis. Even Republicans are divided (48% approval – 45% disapproval) on how federal lawmakers from their own party are handling the issue.

That sure is a strange way to word things. How bout we try it this way so it doesnt look like they are spinning the facts. If one third give Obama thumbs down that means two thirds or roughly 66% APPROVE the way he is handling it. If 23% approve of Republicans in Congress then that means OVER two thirds DISAPPROVE of how the Republicans are handling it. Obama 66%, Repubicans 23%. Its clear that the blame is mostly on Republicans yet CNN is fluffing it off in favor of Republicans.

July 15, 2014 10:35 am at 10:35 am |

Gurgyl

-if they overstay, deport, come see in Cary, NC, lot of these foreigners from India are illegals, visa overstayers, breaking the laws, making the nation, state, place filthy like third world. Yes, these guys in NJ, DC areas too. Deport all this third world trash. CNN needs to put all without bias. God bless.

July 15, 2014 10:35 am at 10:35 am |

sonny chapman

Of the 65% Repubs who don't want to spend the $3.7 Billion, how many consider themselves "Christians" ? So, WWJD ? "I was a stranger, and you did/did not welcome me",Matthew 25,35.

July 15, 2014 10:46 am at 10:46 am |

Bob Mundy

The difference is that the roughly 50% of Republicans that disagree with the way their GOP congress is handling the crisis believe that the answer is to set up machine guns at the border. Anything less is not a sufficient response to them. The 66% of Democrats that disagree with Obama want to see something humane done for the children. Another reason the GOP is destined for regional party status.

July 15, 2014 10:47 am at 10:47 am |

Rudy NYC

As long as polls show most people giving Pres. Obama a thumbs down on anything, Republicans consider that to be a victory, and mission accomplished. All of this talk by Gov. Perry about Pres. Obama not sending in the National Guard is extremely misleading. If Gov. Perry wanted to, he could order in the National Guard, but he hasn't. Perry would rather complain about Pres. Obama not ordering the Texas National Guard about.

Republicans have also been entirely misleading about the nature of the border crisis. They keep complaining about the border not being secure. The problem isn't people sneaking across the border. The problem is that there are people, mostly minors apparently, surrendering by the hundreds every day.

July 15, 2014 10:48 am at 10:48 am |

smith

Both should get the thumbs down. The only solution is a wall. Time to stop thinking about feelings and potential voters and start using some logic.

July 15, 2014 10:53 am at 10:53 am |

Tommy G

You just gotta love how the leftist news organizations use these polls to try and protect Obama from a disaster of his own making. Why are they asking about Republicans solving the problem?! OBAMA and the Democrats created it!!! OBAMA is the person that is supposed to be enforcing our immigration laws and securing our borders. He is doing NEITHER.

And I am sure most if not all of the people polled have no idea what Obama is asking for or what the money will be spent on. Do these poll takers think that everybody in this country knows all of the details of this stuff? Totally ridiculous.

The bottom line is Obama could stop this massive illegal invasion of our country very quickly but will not do it. This situation is one of his making is very much to his liking. He doesn't give a damn how much it hurts this country or the people, towns and cities that will have to pay for his disaster.

Another fix our mess without our help, getting very old, grow up rwnj.

July 15, 2014 10:56 am at 10:56 am |

bill

approve of obama's plan-nobody knows what it is. this is like obamacare-sign the bill and read about it later. WE HAVE TO SECURE THE BORDER-THEN WORK WITH THOSE KIDS. If we don't secure the border it is like a flood hitting your house and you start cleaning it up while the water is still coming in. WANT TO STOP THIS?????? SHUT OFF ALL MONEY AND NO IMPORTS FROM MEXICO AND THESE COUNTRIES UNTIL THEY STOP IT--Mexico arrest a marine but helps thousands enter their country illegally?????? the STOP has to be at the Mexico southern border-–stop their imports and they will jump on this like obama for a fund raiser.

July 15, 2014 10:59 am at 10:59 am |

rs

At the end of the day, two things have to happen to resolve this issue:
1. The Right has to end its campaign of lies. There is no amnesty, stated or implied in the bill passed by the Senate and blocked by Boehner and the TEA Party-ettes of the House. There is no plan implied or real on the part of the President to bring children here, nor is the "Dreamers" action responsible for this wave of kids. The GOP has to get over politicizing everything if they wish to be credible players. Probably the best thing for the House to do is to pass immigration reform as it was sent to them. It's a bi-partisan bill, and it has the support of the American People and the President. The GOP also has to give up the pipedream of attaching anything ACA-related to this bill.

2. If the GOP wants to undo Mr. Bush's law of 2008, that is their next legislative act- perhaps in conjunction with the President's request for $3.78 billion for more INS, Border Patrol employees, and facilities to expedite the determination and/or return of the children on site already. Likewise, this needs to be a clean bill devoid of baggage.

July 15, 2014 11:00 am at 11:00 am |

Anonymous

Our country is rotting from ghe inside out, our country is being raped it sickening, these ppl are sucking ever resource they can until American is left with nothing.

Re: Lizzie, his plan does nothing of the kind, 26 pages even you might make it through, no rather it puts insurance companies in control of dropping you the second your a risk, no risk all reward, typical gop again sad you refuse to see the light, the facts are there anytime your ready.

July 15, 2014 11:08 am at 11:08 am |

Pollopa

Same story. The President proposes a fix to you name it problem. The Senate gets behind him on compromise legislation that addresses the issue and something the President can support. The Republican controlled Congress blocks anything getting done. A poll comes out saying that the people support the Presidents idea, and the same poll and others say that they don't like how its all being handled by the President or Congress, and they rate the Congress lower than the President. You know what its like, you got a player on your team that drags the rest of the team down. What do you do to change this. You get rid of the drag on your team. The Republican control of Congress needs to end people. Don't you want to be winning again??

July 15, 2014 11:12 am at 11:12 am |

atheist

sonny chapman
Of the 65% Repubs who don't want to spend the $3.7 Billion, how many consider themselves "Christians" ? So, WWJD ? "I was a stranger, and you did/did not welcome me",Matthew 25,35.
--–

Keep your religious zealotry out of the government and government decisions. Haven't you ever heard of separation of church and state?

July 15, 2014 11:13 am at 11:13 am |

Alan

Spending $3.7B and do nothing to amend the law and increase border security and we can expect to pay that same amount next year. Its a bad deal and is nothing but a stimulus for lawyers. Its the federal governments job to uphold our laws and provide uphold our borders. As someone who lives in a southern state its time to start sending more of these people into the northern states that condone this behavior. Immigration is great and our ancestors all migrated here but we only need so many uneducated low skilled workers. How about focusing on prioritizing those with college degrees, higher education, investment and work down from there.

July 15, 2014 11:14 am at 11:14 am |

rs

smith

Both should get the thumbs down. The only solution is a wall. Time to stop thinking about feelings and potential voters and start using some logic.
_________________________
When you come up with a way to put a wall down the middle of the Rio Grande River (a river both Mexico and Texas have treaty access to), by all means let the Border Patrol know.
The "wall" is not a solution (it never has been throughout history), it is a Right-wing pipe dream that so long as it goes unfulfilled is a political whining tool to be used by the Right-never mind that since Reagan they has 20 years to erect one. A wall will NEVER happen- the GOP will never fund it.

I'll go slow, the problem I'd not them eluding the border agents its too many kids with a Republican law that ties his hands behind his back, then you blame him and you wonder why your considered the idiots. Tommy, your just blind son, and have no interest in the real truth, sad really

July 15, 2014 11:18 am at 11:18 am |

Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!

As Obama and his incompetent administration bus and fly all of these illegals all around the country causing many cities, towns and states massive problems and costing many, many millions of dollars, people all over the country are standing up and saying NO, NO MORE! Obama has shown the country his true face now and people do not like it one bit. His lawlessness and refusal to do his job is now affecting the American people and their children personally, just as his Obamacare lies did.

Democrats, if you think this is a winning situation for you, you are delusional, very delusional. Obama is leading you to a massive slaughter at the polls in 2014. Keep up the good work Obama.

July 15, 2014 11:18 am at 11:18 am |

Sniffit

"The only solution is a wall. Time to stop thinking about feelings and potential voters and start using some logic."

Alan very typical response from the right you know he can't do much about sending them back until George w law is repealed, and that's exactly why they wont do it, pay attention if you want to learn how the gop works, its not about anything other than making our country worse, at any cost.

July 15, 2014 11:24 am at 11:24 am |

Hector Slagg

NEWS FLASH: The Liberal Mouthpieces are going to Shuck and Jive until you have forgotten about the Flood of illegals Coming across the Southern Border. All these border jumpers are going to be foisted on the tax Paying Public along with all the other "Wonderful" Programs the Liberals have put in place. Get used to it folks, you are going to pay the bill. Got a job? Working 29 Hours? You Voted for it.

July 15, 2014 11:25 am at 11:25 am |

Andy

Parents should make it clear to their boards of education they will not allow their children to be exposed to these disease carriers

July 15, 2014 11:25 am at 11:25 am |

Tony D

Where are all the rich liberal contributors to chip in and donate their millions to take care of all these kids? This is a liberal dream, open borders, lots of future minority voters. Where is all their money to help these kids? Where are all the benefit concerts? Where are all the celebrities stepping forward? Has Obama sucked your wallets dry already?!

July 15, 2014 11:26 am at 11:26 am |

Sniffit

"And I am sure most if not all of the people polled have no idea what Obama is asking for or what the money will be spent on."

I'm 100% certain that you're one of those people.

List what it requests funding for and for each item provide a cogent, rational argument as to why that's a waste of money, won't work and/or is part of Obama's alleged conspiracy to "brown up the country" by "failing to enforce our immigration laws." Ready? Go!